cavaleiro

Inherited from Late Latin caballārius (“horseman”), from Latin caballus. By surface analysis, cavalo +‎ -eiro.

• (Galicia) IPA^(key): /ka.βa.ˈlej.ɾo/
• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ka.βa.ˈlej.ɾʊ/

cavaleiro m (plural cavaleiros)

1. knight (mediaeval warrior)
2. a noble ranked below an infançon and above an escudeiro

• (Portuguese fidalgo ranks) fidalgo; ricome, infançon, cavaleiro, escudeiro

• cavalo

• Galician: cabaleiro
• Portuguese: cavaleiro

• cavalleiro (pre-reform spelling)
• cavaleyro, cavalleyro (obsolete)

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese cavaleiro, from Late Latin caballārius. Compare Galician cabaleiro. By surface analysis, cavalo (“horse”) +‎ -eiro (“-eer”). Doublet of cavalheiro, through Spanish caballero.

• Rhymes: (Brazil) -ejɾu, (Portugal) -ɐjɾu, (yod dropping) -eɾu
• Hyphenation: ca‧va‧lei‧ro

cavaleiro (feminine cavaleira, masculine plural cavaleiros, feminine plural cavaleiras)

1. pertaining to cavalry

cavaleiro m (plural cavaleiros, feminine cavaleira, feminine plural cavaleiras)

1. (military, historical) knight (heavily armoured warrior of the Middle Ages)
2. (military) cavalryman; cavalier (soldier who serves on a cavalry regiment)

   Synonym: (Brazil) cavalariano

3. (nobility) knight (noble ranked below a baron)

cavaleiro m (plural cavaleiros, feminine amazona, feminine plural amazonas)

1. horseman; horserider (person who rides a horse)
   • 1880, Maria Amalia Vaz de Carvalho, “A Cigana [The Gypsy]”, in Contos e phantasias [Short stories and fantasies]‎^[1], 2nd edition, Lisbon: Parceria Antonio Maria Pereira, published 1905, page 143:

     A galera como um cavallo que obedece facilmente á pericia de um optimo cavalleiro, proejou a barra em meio das exclamações dos impacientes e saudosos passageiros.

     The galley, like a horse that easily obeys the skill of an excellent rider, crossed the bar amidst the exclamations of the impatient and nostalgic passengers.